Coal ladder



W. H. TOWNE, 0. M. THJOMOE, AND W. B. MERCER.

- COAL LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3. 1920.

1,408,659. Patented Mar- 7, 1922.

[1v YENTOKS WILL/5 H. Tow/v5 0770 M. 7"HJOMOE W/LL/AM' B. MERCER ATTOR'NE Y.

UNITED STATES ATET @FEQE.

WILLIS H. TOWNE, orro M. THJOMOE, AND WILLIAM B. MERGER, or CHICAGO,rumors.

GOAL LADDER.

Application filed December 3,- 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Winnie H. Townn, O'r'roM. THJO-MOE, and lVILLmM 13. MER- cnn, citizens of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented anew and useful 11nprovcment in Coal Ladders, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Ourinvention relates to an improved construction of coal ladder for useincoal silos, consisting in a broken helical slide or chute adapted foruse on the inner cylindrical wall of the silo, particularly where theinterior of the silo is divided into a plurality of bins by verticalpartitions extending radially of the Silo.

lVe are aware that coal ladders have heretofore been proposed,consisting of a series of straight slides or chutes and also that it hasbeen proposed to use a spiral or helical slide or chute extendingcompletely around the inner surface of a cylindrical silo to convey coalfrom the top of the silo to the bottom in filling the same. T he coalladder referred to however, is not applicable for nscin cylin dricalsilos and the continuous spiral or helical chute can not be used incylindrical silos containing a plurality of bins. In practice it isadvisable in many instances to divide cylindrical silos into two or morebins extending from, top to bottom of the silo, by vertical partitionsfrom the centcrof the silo to the outer cylindrical wall of the same, inorder that the silo may accommodate and store two or more kinds of coal.In storing coal in silos of the kind under consideration, it is elevatedby suitable means forming no part of the present invention, to the upperend of the silo and either dropped. into the silo or conveyed from thetop thereof to the bottom by a slide construction arranged to conduct orconvey the coal easily and without great speed to the bottom of thesilo. in dropping the coal from the top of the silo to the bottom alarge amount of breakage occurs which. materially reduces the value ofthe coal since coal silos of this kind are about fifty feet high. firsfar as we are aware. no practical slide construction has heretofore beenproposed adapted for use in a segmental bin of a cylindrical silo. It isan object of our present invention to provide a slide construction ofhelical conformation on the inner cylindrical wall of a segmental bin ofI a cylindrical silo, said slide being in sections Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. '7, 1922.

Serial No. 428,081.

in reverse relation to each other and arranged to transfer the coal fromone section of said slide to another section adjacent to a partitionbetween said bin and another segmental bin of the silo. It is a furtherobject of our invention to construct each section of the slide so thatits surface will be inclined radially of the silo, as a result of whichthe centrifugal force of the coal moving down the slidewill be partiallyor entirely balanced as desired by the inwardly directed radialcomponent of the weight of the coal on the slide due to the inclinationof the latter. By our invention we also provide a construction by whichthe surface of the slide may be given a varying degree of radialinclination to accommodate andcoinpensate for the centrifugal forcesexerted upon coal of difierent kind and size as it passes down theslide.

ur invention will best, be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof in which Fig. 1 shows invertical sectional. view a siloof cylindrical construction having twobins, the slide construct-ion being shown in full lines, l

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the silo shown in Fig. 1, taken along theline 22,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the slide construction shown inli i s. l and 2 taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, and

F fshows in a view sii'nilar to Fig. 3 amodified construction of theslide such that the inclination of the surface of the slide variesradially.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

As shown in the drawings. the silo consists of a cylindrical outer wall10. prcfcrably of concrete, wood, tile or steel. divided into separatebins A and B by a vertical partition ll which extends across the silofrom its top to its lower portion. which lower portion contains inclinedwalls or floors 12 and 13 constituting the bottoms of the bins A and Brespectively and serving to deliver the contents of the bins to theloading chutes l4 and 15 when suitable controlling gates 16 and 17 areoperated.

The coal to be stored in the silo is elevated by suitable means notshown, as it forms no part of our invention, which elevating meansdelivers the coal'to a horizontal conveyor 18 upper surface of thesection 24 is of varying radial inclination as a result of which theslide will properly handle different kinds and sizes of coal since thecoal will move outwardly on the slide radially until the balancedrelation of the forces acting upon the coal above indicated is secured.This varying radial inclination is preferably secured by giving theupper surface of the slide a curved conformation radially, the radius ofcurvature decreasing from the inner edge to the outer edge of the slidesection.

A further advantage secured by our radiall yinclined slide is that aftera bin has been filled by use of the slide, and the coal has afterwardsbeen removed from the bin, pieces of the coal will not readily remain onthe slide but will move therefrom into the bin, whereas if the slidewere level ra dially, under the conditions just referred. to, pieces ofthe coal would remain'on the slide to be struck by the next coal passingdown the slide in. refilling the bin with the result that considerablebreakage would occur which is avoided by our present construction.

lVhile we have shown our invention in the particular embodiment abovedescribed, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to thisexact construction as we may employ equivalents known to the art at thetime of the filing of this application without de )arting from the scopeof the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a bin having vertical walls comprising cylindricaland flat inner surfaces, and a noncontinuous helical slide mounted onsaid cylindrical surface, said slide consisting of a plurality ofsections er;- tending reversely down said cylindrical su face with thelower end of one of said seetions above the upper end of a second one ofsaid sections, said lower end clearing said upper end and the flat innersurface of said bin, and said sections having upper surfaces on whichmaterial will slide helically to wards the bottom of saidbin, wherebysaid material will flow from the lower end of said one section to theupper end of said second section and then in reversed. direction downsaid second section.

2. In combination, a bin having vertical walls comprising cylindricaland fiat inner surfaces, a non-contimious helical slide mounted on saidcylindrical surface, said slide consisting of a plurality of sectionsextending reversely down said cylindrical surface with the lower end ofone of said sections above the upper end. of a second one of saidsections, said lower end clearing said upper end and the flat innersurface of said bin, and said sections having upper surfaces on whichmaterial will slide helically towards the bottom of said bin, wherebysaid material will flow from the lower end of said one section to theupper end of said second section and then in reversed direction downsaid second section, and an inner vertical retaining member at the upperend of said second section to prevent overflow of said material duringits change in direction of motion.

In combination, a bin having vertical walls comllrising cylindricalandflat inner surfaces, and a non-continuous helical slide mounted on saidcylindrical surface, said slide consisting of a plurality of sectionsextending reversely down said cylindrical surface with the lower end ofone of saidsections above the upper end of a second one of saidsections, said lower end clearing said upper end and the flat innersurface of said bin, and said sections having upper surfaces on whichmaterial will slide helically to wards the bottom of said bin, wherebysaid material will flow from the lower end of said one section to theupper end of said second section and then in reversed direction downsaid second section, the upper surface of each of said sections beinglDCllIlQClllOWlk wards radially towards the axis of said cylindricalsurface to substantially counteract the centrifugal force of materialmoving down said section. V

4. In combinatioina bin having vertical walls comprisingcylindrical andflat inner surfaces, and a non-continuous helical slide mounted on saidcylindrical surface, said slide consisting of a plurality of sectionsextending reversely down said cylindrical surface with the lower end ofone of said sections above the upper end of a second one of saidsections, said lower end clearing said upper end and the flat innersurface of said bin, and said sections having upper surfaces on whichmaterial will slide helically towards the bottom of said bin, wherebysaid material will flow from the lower end of said one section to theupper end of said second section and then in reversed direction downsaid second section, the'upper surface of each of said sections beinginclined downwards radially towards the axis of said cylindrical surfaceto substantially counteract the centrifugal force of material. movingdown said section, said radially inclination varying in amount radiallyacross said upper surface, andbeing of less inclination to a horizontalplane at the inner edge of said surface than at its outer edge.

In combination. a bin having vertical walls comprising cylindrical andflat inner surfaces, and a non-continuous helical slide mounted on saidcylindrical surface, said slide consisting of aplurality of sectionsextending reversely down said cylindrical surface with the lower end ofone of said sections above the upper end of a second one of saidsections, sald lower end clearing said upper id and the list inner binand. said sections havii n1 on which material will. slide helicallytowards the bottom of said bin, whereby, said material will flow fromthe lower end oil? said one section to the ugper end ol? said secondsection and then in reversdirection down said second section, the up} 1'surface oil: each of said sections being curved radially and having agreater inclination to a vertical plane at the outer edge of said section than at its inner edge.

6. In combination, a coal silo having a cylindrical outer wall, verticalpartitions extending from top to bottom of said silo :froin the centralportion of said silo to its outer wall to divide said silo into bins,and a sectional helical slide mounted in each bin on the inner surfaceof said outer wall, said slide consisting of a plurality oilf helicalsections extending reversely down said inner surface, a first one ofsaid sections ending adjacent a vertical partition and over the upperend of a second one of said sections but separated from said partition.and said upper end to permit material to pass freely from said firstsection to said second section.

7. In combination, a coal. silo having a cylindrical outer wall,vertical. partitions extending from top to bottom oil? said silo fromthe central portion of said silo to its outer wall to divide said siloint-chins, and a sectional helical slide mounted in each bin on theinner surface of said outer wall, said slide consisting of a ph'iralityof helical sections extending, reversely down said inner surface, afirst one of c ections ending adjacent a vertical. partition and overthe upper end of a second. one ol? said sections but separated from saidpartition and. said upper end to permit material to pass 'eeiy tl ronisaid first section to said second section, the upper ends of the uppersections of said slides being disposed in ditlcrent locations in theupper end of the silo to facilitate deliveriug, material to any bin ascesired.

SfIn. combination, a coal. silo having; a cylindrical outer wall,vertical partitions e21 tending from top to bottom of: said silo fromthe central portion of said silo to its outer wall to divide said silointo bins, a sectional helical slide mounted in each bio on the innersurface of said outer wall, said slide consisting of a plurality of:helical sections extending reversely down said inner surface, a firstone of: said sections ending, adjacent avertical partition and over theupper end oi a second one of said sections but separated,

from saidpartition and said upper end to permit material to pass :treelyfrom said first section to said second section, and an outwardly anddownwardly inclined bottom for each bin adjacent the lower free end of?the lowermost section 01"- the slide in said bin cilitute removing tion,a c

9. in. con'ibina cylindrical outer wall, extending from top to bottom ofsaid silo from the central portion of said silo to its outer wall todivide said silo into bins, a sectional helical slide mounted in eachbin on the inner surface of said outer wall, said slide consisting or":a plurality oi: helical sections extending reversely down said innersurface, first one of said sections ending adjacent a vertical partitionand over the upper end of a second one of said sections but separatedtroin said partition. and said upper end to permit material. to passilfreely from said. first section to said second secti and a retainingmember on the inner edge oi the upper end of each lower section oi? saidslides extending to the adjacent partition and upwards adjacent L thelower end of the section above said lower section.

it). in combination, a coal silo having a cylindrical outer wall,vertical partitions extending from top to bottom oi said silo from thecentral. portion of said silo to its outer wall to divide said silo intobins, and a sectionalv helical. slide mounted in each bin on the innersurface of said outer wall, said s. to consisting of a plurality ofhelical sections exoending reverselv down said inner surface, a firstone of s: d sections ending adjacent a vertical. partition and over theupper end of a second one 01'? said sections hut separated :irom saidpartition. and said upper end to permit material to pass freely fromsaid. lirst section to said second secti 1, the upper surface of each ofsaid sections lwing inclined downwards radially towards the XlS of saidsilo.

i. in combination, a coal silo having a cylindrical outer wall,vertical. partitions e tendiugg from top to bottom of said silo from thecentral portion cl said silo to its outer wall to divide said silo intobins, and a sectional helical slide mounted in each bin on the innersurface oi. said outer wall, said slide consisting: oi. a plurality ofheli cal sections eaten .ing; rcversely dmvn said inner surface, a lirstone of said sections ending adjacent a vertical partition and. over theupper end of a second one of said sections but separated from saidpartition and said upper end to permit material to pass freely from saidfirst section to said second section, the upper sin'iacc o'l? each ofsaid sections l'ieing curved radially and upwardly from the inner ed goto the outer edge ver tical partitions of said section. the radius ofsaid curvature tions reversely arranged over each other around avertical axis with the lower end of afirst section adjacent andseparated from the upper end of a second section whereby material maypass from one section to the other and have its direction of downwardmotion reversed, devices for preventing lateral inward flow of materialfrom the upper end of said second section, and a re taining memberprojecting upwardly from the outer edge of each section.

13. In a device of the class described, a broken helical slidecomprising similar sections reversely arranged over each other around avertical aXis with the lower end of a first section adjacent andseparated from the upper end of a second section whereby material maypass from one section to the other and have its direction of downwardmotion reversed, devices for preventing lateral inward flow of materialfrom the upper end of said second section, and a retaining memberprojecting upwardly from the outer edge of each section, the uppersurface of each of said sections being inclined downwards radiallytowards the aXis of said slide.

14. In a device of the class described, a broken helical slidecomprising similar sections reversely arranged over each other around avertical axis with the lower end of a first sect-ion adjacent andseparated from the upper end of a second section whereby material maypass from one sec tion to the other and have its direction of downwardmotion reversed, devices for preventing lateral inward flow of materialfrom the upper end of said second section, and a retaining memberprojecting upwardly from the outer edge of each section, the uppersurface of each of said sections being curved radially and upwardly fromthe inner edge to the outer edge of said section.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a helicalslide having an upper surface inclined downwards towards the axis of theslide, and a retaining portion projecting upwardly from the outer partof the said upper surface.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a silo havinga cylindrical wall, and a helical slide mounted on the inner surface ofsaid wall, said slide hav ing an upper surface inclined downwardsradially of the silo.

17 In a device of the class described, the

combination of a bin having vertical walls.

comprising cylindrical and fiat inner surfaces, and a helical slide onsaid cylindrical surface, said slide having an upper surface inclineddownwards radially of said cylindrical surface.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 23rd day ofNovember, A. D.

IVILLIS H. TO WNE. OTTO M. THJOMOE. WILLIAM B. MERGER.

